Search and Replace

This report, released by the Rideau Institute and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, responds to news that Treasury Board has granted “first-phase approval” of $3.8 billion for new search-and-rescue planes, and calls on the government to replace the Canadian Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue (FWSAR) fleet in a timely and objective manner. The report also proposes that a number of made-in-Canada aircraft be considered to fulfill Canada’s search and rescue requirements, especially on the West Coast—and most importantly, the authors want to see a clear and open process for acquiring the aircraft. The Statement of Operational Requirements, which outlines the performance specifications that the aircraft must be able to achieve, has never been made public.